Murray Halberg
Encyclopedia
Sir Murray Gordon Halberg, ONZ
, MBE
(born 7 July 1933) is a former New Zealand
middle distance runner who won the gold medal in the 5000 metres event at the 1960 Olympics
. He also won gold medals in the 3 miles events at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games. He has worked for the welfare of children with disabilities since he founded the Halberg Trust in 1963.
Born in Eketahuna
, Halberg was a rugby
player in his youth, but suffered a severe injury during a game, leaving his left arm crippled. The next year, he took up running, seemingly being only more motivated by his handicap. In 1951, he met Arthur Lydiard
, who became his coach. Lydiard had been a famous long-distance runner, and had new ideas on the training of athletes. Three years later, Halberg broke through, winning his first national title on the senior level.
At the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
he placed fifth in the mile. At the 1956 Olympics
in Melbourne, Australia, he placed eleventh in the 1500 metres. Halberg became the first sub four-minute mile
r from New Zealand, and won the gold medal
in the three miles at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
. He became New Zealand Sportsman of the Year for 1958.
For the 1960 Rome Olympics
, Halberg focused on the longer distances, entering in the 5000 and 10000 m. Halberg won the 5000 m gold, on the same day countryman Peter Snell
was victorious in the 800 m. Halberg later opts not to run in 10,000 m.
The following year, Halberg set four world record
s in events over imperial distances. After carrying the flag at the opening ceremonies, Halberg successfully defended his three mile title at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
. He closed out his running career at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
, finishing seventh in the 10,000 m.
Sir Murray was made an MBE in 1961, and knighted in 1988. In the June 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Halberg was appointed to New Zealand's highest non titular honour, the Order of New Zealand
. The following month he became only the fourth person to be awarded the Blake Medal, named after fellow countryman Sir Peter Blake
, for his more than 50 years' service to athletics, and to children with disabilities. In 1963 he set up The Halberg Trust, which supports children with disabilities to be active in sport, creation and leisure. For many years the Halberg Trust has managed the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year Award, which is now called the Westpac Halberg Awards
.
Halberg House of Hutt International Boys' School
is named after Sir Murray Halberg, and students in the house earn what are called "Meter points" which relates to Sir Murray Halberg and his running Career.
Tauranga Boys' College
also named a house after Sir Murray Halberg.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 7 July 1933) is a former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
middle distance runner who won the gold medal in the 5000 metres event at the 1960 Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
. He also won gold medals in the 3 miles events at the 1958 and 1962 Commonwealth Games. He has worked for the welfare of children with disabilities since he founded the Halberg Trust in 1963.
Born in Eketahuna
Eketahuna
Eketahuna is a small rural service town, the most southerly in the Tararua District in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand, but is considered to be in northern Wairarapa. It was called Mellenskov, but was renamed soon after its founding.The town is located at the foot of...
, Halberg was a rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player in his youth, but suffered a severe injury during a game, leaving his left arm crippled. The next year, he took up running, seemingly being only more motivated by his handicap. In 1951, he met Arthur Lydiard
Arthur Lydiard
Arthur Leslie Lydiard, ONZ, OBE, was a New Zealand runner and athletics coach. He has been lauded as one of the outstanding athletics coaches of all time and is credited with popularizing the sport of running and making it commonplace across the sporting world...
, who became his coach. Lydiard had been a famous long-distance runner, and had new ideas on the training of athletes. Three years later, Halberg broke through, winning his first national title on the senior level.
At the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
he placed fifth in the mile. At the 1956 Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne, Australia, he placed eleventh in the 1500 metres. Halberg became the first sub four-minute mile
Four-minute mile
In the sport of athletics, the four-minute mile is the act of completing the mile run in less than four minutes. It was first achieved in 1954 by Roger Bannister in 3:59.4. The 'four minute barrier' has since been broken by many male athletes, and is now the standard of all male professional...
r from New Zealand, and won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the three miles at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18–26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya...
. He became New Zealand Sportsman of the Year for 1958.
For the 1960 Rome Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, Halberg focused on the longer distances, entering in the 5000 and 10000 m. Halberg won the 5000 m gold, on the same day countryman Peter Snell
Peter Snell
Sir Peter George Snell, KNZM, MBE is a former New Zealand athlete, now resident in Texas, United States. He had one of the shortest careers of world famous international sportsmen, yet achieved so much that he was voted New Zealand’s "Sports Champion of the Century"...
was victorious in the 800 m. Halberg later opts not to run in 10,000 m.
The following year, Halberg set four world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
s in events over imperial distances. After carrying the flag at the opening ceremonies, Halberg successfully defended his three mile title at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Perth, Western Australia, Australia from 22 November-1 December 1962. Athletic events were held at Perry Lakes Stadium in the suburb of Floreat and swimming events at Beatty Park in North Perth....
. He closed out his running career at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, finishing seventh in the 10,000 m.
Sir Murray was made an MBE in 1961, and knighted in 1988. In the June 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Halberg was appointed to New Zealand's highest non titular honour, the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
. The following month he became only the fourth person to be awarded the Blake Medal, named after fellow countryman Sir Peter Blake
Peter Blake (yachtsman)
Sir Peter James Blake, KBE was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup...
, for his more than 50 years' service to athletics, and to children with disabilities. In 1963 he set up The Halberg Trust, which supports children with disabilities to be active in sport, creation and leisure. For many years the Halberg Trust has managed the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year Award, which is now called the Westpac Halberg Awards
Halberg awards
The Westpac Halberg awards recognise New Zealand's top sporting achievements.The annual award was started in 1949 by NZ Sportsman magazine founder Jack Fairburn...
.
Halberg House of Hutt International Boys' School
Hutt International Boys' School
Hutt International Boys' School is a state integrated boys' secondary school in Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand. the Principal is Grahame Duffy, who was appointed to the role in 2001.-Foundation:...
is named after Sir Murray Halberg, and students in the house earn what are called "Meter points" which relates to Sir Murray Halberg and his running Career.
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tauranga Boys' College is a state secondary school for boys, located on the edge of the downtown area of Tauranga, New Zealand. The school was founded in 1958. The school prides itself on its successful involvement in academia, sport and the arts.-History:...
also named a house after Sir Murray Halberg.